The Gist

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Every Little Thing Xi Does Is Tragic Dec 04, 2023

Show notes

It would seem China is in a state of decline, but it's hard to know for sure. The Economist's Ted Plafker joins to discuss what we can discern about the property crisis, political firings, and how countries who borrowed as part of the Belt And Road initiative got steamrolled. Plus, Ron DeSantis doesn't want to answer for Donald Trump's use of animal imagery. And a touching tribute to the late, great North Dakota hope Doug Burgum.

See Mike Live on December 6th

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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BEST OF THE GIST: Misused Political Slogan Edition Dec 02, 2023

Show notes

In this installment of Best Of The Gist, we explore a few catchy political slogans that turned out to be deceptive, confusing, or just kind of dumb. First we listen to Tuesday's spiel about the expression "From the river to the sea," and then we listen back to Mike's June 5, 2020 spiel about the slogan "Defund the police."

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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The Slings And Poop Maps Of Outrageous Fortune Dec 01, 2023

Show notes

Eliot Cohen, Dean of the Johns Hopkins School of International Studies and former Counselor to the Secretary Of State has always thought Shakespeare had great insights about great leaders. His book is The Hollow Crown: Shakespeare on How Leaders Rise, Rule, and Fall. Plus, George Santos gets bounced, and Ron DeSantis has a crap map.

See Mike Live on December 6th

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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The Tempest In Elon Musk's Brain Nov 30, 2023

Show notes

Elon Musk's intemperate but tempestuous remarks show us a man whose not hard to understand but difficult nonetheless. Plus, we're visited by Kliph Nesteroff, author of Outrageous: A History of Showbiz and the Culture Wars. And Malawi get into the Israel act.

See Mike Live on December 6th

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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Flying Cars Grounded By Red Tape And The Russian Mob Nov 29, 2023

Show notes

In Bradley Tusk's new novel Obvious In Hindsight, a flying car company attempts to get government approval, even though the politics are dicey, the lobbyists are dirty, and the cars just might not ... uh, what's the word? Fly. Plus, after seventeen days, workers freed thanks to rat tunnels. And the very leftist Youtube channels going beyond even Hamas' obfuscations to flat out allege that Israel targeted their own citizens.

Catch The Gist Live on December 6th

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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"From The River To The Sea" Rebranded As A Call For Peace Nov 28, 2023

Show notes

When a slogan of war suddenly becomes a call to peace. Also on the show, we pick back up where we left off with the New York Times' David Leonhardt. His new book is Ours Was The Shining Future: The Story of the American Dream. Plus, the refused-to-be-addressed crisis at the border.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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The Future Looked Brighter In The Past Nov 27, 2023

Show notes

Pulitzer Prize winning NY Times writer David Leonhardt is here to discuss Ours Was The Shining Future: The Story of the American Dream. The hostage exchange between Israel and Hamas is working and showing us that countries are right to care about their own citizens. Plus, a few furry friends become entrees, and a Fertile Turtle is at the center of the ordeal.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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BEST OF THE GIST: Cease-Fire Edition Nov 25, 2023

Show notes

In this installment of Best Of The Gist, as Israel and Hamas agree to a cease fire, we listen back to Mike's 2014 interview with Mitchell Reiss, author of Negotiating with Evil, who suggests that the question is not whether to negotiate with terrorists, but how to get the best deal. Then we listen back to Mike's Tuesday Spiel in which he envisions where the war in Gaza goes from here.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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60 Hours In Israel Nov 24, 2023

Show notes

Mike spent the majority of last week reporting from Israel. On his trip, he met and interviewed many people living through the current crisis, and this special Thanksgiving weekend episode is a collection of said reportage, in which he tells the stories of those people who's lives were forever changed by the events of October 7, 2023.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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Architecture's Weird Definition of "Natural" Nov 22, 2023

Show notes

Des Fitzgerald, Professor of Medical Humanities and Social Sciences at University College Cork in Ireland, is out with a new book The Living City: Why Cities Don't Need to Be Green to Be Great. The European title gets at things more straightforwardly: The City of Today is a Dying Thing: In Search of the Cities of Tomorrow. We'll discuss the need for two titles. Plus, on the day Israel and Hamas agree to a hostage release and temporary cease-fire, attempting to watch the 47-minute film of Hamas atrocities with an emphasis on humanity over dehumanization.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com

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Follow Mikes Substack at: Pesca Profundities | Mike Pesca | Substack

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